Obstetric violence

Obstetric violence includes abuse or mistreatment during labour and birth. It's a type of gender-based violence and a violation of your human rights.

Examples of obstetric violence are:

• not being offered all available care options
• not being asked for informed consent
• use of language that makes you feel pressured into certain choices

Obstetric violence can lead to birth trauma. Sometimes these terms are used to mean the same thing.

Obstetric violence can sometimes result from systems issues, such as a lack of trauma informed training.

An Australian study found that over 1 in 10 people had some form of obstetric violence when giving birth. While 1 in 3 people reported having a traumatic birth.

Any healthcare worker can cause obstetric violence. This includes:

• obstetricians
• midwives
• anaesthetists
• GPs
• other healthcare workers

Obstetric violence can take different forms. Examining you or giving you treatment without your consent is a type of obstetric violence.

Other examples of obstetric violence are being:

• shouted at
• scolded
• humiliated
• threatened
• ignored
• refused help

It may also be:

• physical violence
• loss of autonomy (independence)
• use of practices not backed by evidence, like routine episiotomy
• having your mobility restricted
• lack of confidentiality
• not gaining consent
• being refused a support person

The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights (Opens in new tab) describes your healthcare rights. These rights apply during your pregnancy and birth.

You have 7 key rights:

1. access
2. safety
3. respect
4. partnership
5. information
6. privacy
7. give feedback

You have a right to be treated with respect and dignity. You should expect healthcare professionals to maintain your privacy and keep your health information confidential.

Your choices must be respected, even if they are different from what your doctor or midwife advise.

You have a right to:

• choose what type of pregnancy care you would like
• get information about the benefits and risks of different care options, tests and treatments
• ask questions
• be involved in decisions about your care
• give or withdraw consent for any type of care you're offered
• have a support person with you

You are entitled to pregnancy care that respects your culture, values, beliefs and preferences.

If you need an interpreter, this should be arranged for you at no cost.

Find out more about your rights during pregnancy and birth.

There are medical (Opens in new tab) and midwifery (Opens in new tab) guidelines that protect your rights during pregnancy and birth. These guidelines set the standard for pregnancy care in Australia.

These guidelines support the training of healthcare workers to communicate in a sensitive manner:

• with you and your family
• with each other

Having your partner or support person with you at appointments and during labour and birth can help stop obstetric violence.

Your healthcare professionals should recognise and respect your beliefs, including your:

• ethnic beliefs
• religious beliefs
• social beliefs
• cultural values and beliefs

If English is not your first language, you can get an interpreter via the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) (Opens in new tab).

If you experience obstetric violence, you may feel:

• shame
• disrespected
• confused
• violated
• powerless

You might find it helpful to see a counsellor or psychologist (Opens in new tab) to talk about what happened. You can ask your doctor for a referral.

How do I make a complaint?

Talking to the healthcare professionals involved in your care can help you understand what's happened and why.

To make a complaint, ask for the hospital complaints manager or consumer adviser.

You can call the health complaints agency in your state or territory, if:

• you don't feel comfortable complaining to the hospital
• you're not happy with the way your complaint was dealt with

To complain about a healthcare worker, call the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Opens in new tab) (AHPRA) on 1300 419 495.

Visit Australian Birth Trauma Association (Opens in new tab) for information and support, including peer-to-peer support.

Visit PANDA (Opens in new tab) (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia) for information and support. You can call the PANDA national helpline on 1300 726 306.

Gidget Foundation Australia (Opens in new tab) supports the emotional wellbeing of expectant and new parents. You can call them on 1300 851 758.

ForWhen (Opens in new tab) connects new parents to mental health services and supports. You can call them on 1300 24 23 22.

Beyond Blue (Opens in new tab) offers mental health support and counselling. You can call 1300 22 4636 or chat to a counsellor online.

The Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) (Opens in new tab) has information on perinatal mental health and information on support services.

Find out more about your rights as a consumer of the Australian healthcare system (Opens in new tab).

Find contact details (Opens in new tab) of the health complaints agency in your state or territory.